30-Minute Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken

Introduction

When you’re craving classic barbecue flavor without hours of slow cooking, this 30-Minute Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken delivers bold taste and irresistible tenderness in record time. It’s ideal for weeknight dinners, tailgates, or family gatherings, offering you all the smoky-sweet satisfaction of Southern-style pulled chicken—no grill (or hassle) required.

Fast, Flavorful Pulled Chicken in Minutes

This recipe is a game changer for anyone looking for a satisfying, homemade BBQ fix with minimal effort. The Instant Pot rapidly infuses the chicken with barbecue sauce and spices, resulting in juicy, shreddable meat every time. Serve it on buns, atop salads, or in wraps for a versatile crowd pleaser everyone will love.

Choosing the Right Sauce & Chicken

The secret to restaurant-quality taste is twofold: high-quality boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs and your favorite barbecue sauce. For extra depth, choose a smoky or spicy sauce and consider adding a splash of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of smoked paprika. These little touches create a mouthwatering sauce that clings perfectly to every strand of chicken.

Easy Step-by-Step Shredding

Once cooked, remove the chicken and use two forks to pull it apart—it should shred effortlessly. Return the chicken to the pot to soak up every drop of saucy goodness. For a little kick, stir in a dash of hot sauce or toss with thinly sliced red onions before serving on toasted brioche buns.

Serving Suggestions for a Crowd-Pleasing BBQ Pulled Chicken

Pile your BBQ pulled chicken onto soft sandwich rolls, slider buns, or tortillas. Top with coleslaw for a refreshing crunch, or serve alongside baked beans, corn on the cob, or roasted potato wedges. This meal is easy to scale, making it ideal for feeding a hungry crowd or prepping lunches for the week ahead.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 6 hearty servings. Each serving contains approximately 260-300 calories (without buns), depending on sauce selection, and provides ample protein—making it a satisfying option for almost any meal plan.

30-Minute Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken (Recap)

Enjoy all the tender, tangy, and smoky flavors of traditional pulled chicken in just 30 minutes. The Instant Pot transforms weeknight dinner prep into a breeze—no grill, no lengthy simmering, just juicy BBQ chicken ready whenever you are.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate a shopping list with all the ingredients, organized by grocery store section—for the most efficient meal prep and zero forgotten items!

Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts or thighs in the Instant Pot.
2. In a bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the Instant Pot and turn to coat.
4. Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” on high for 12 minutes.
5. Once cooking is complete, allow a 5-minute natural pressure release before carefully turning the valve to vent for a quick release of the remaining pressure.
6. Transfer chicken to a large bowl and shred with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and mix with the sauce until evenly coated. If desired, stir in a dash of hot sauce or sliced red onions.
7. Serve hot on buns, wraps, or over salads. Top with coleslaw for classic BBQ flair.

Weekly Meal Planning

This quick BBQ pulled chicken is perfect for weekly meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe to your meal plan to easily consolidate ingredients for all your weekly meals—CookifyAI automatically organizes your grocery list and calculates exactly what you need.

Planning Benefits:

• Compiles ingredient amounts for every meal on your plan
• Merges ingredients into one neatly organized, store-sectioned shopping list
• Minimizes duplicate purchases and missing ingredients
• Makes prepping for busy weeks fast and stress-free

Pro tip: When adding this recipe plus sides or other dinners, schedule them all at once and watch how automatically calculated totals prevent food waste and last-minute grocery trips.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes (plus time for pressure release)
Total Time: 30 minutes

Enjoy the perfect balance of convenience and backyard BBQ taste—all in just half an hour!